Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 10 July 2013

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Children and Youth Affairs

Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 40 - Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Revised)

12:20 pm

Photo of Catherine ByrneCatherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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What kind of uptake has there been in this regard? That is all I really want to know. It is a very basic question. I am also concerned about the increase in the number of children in care. Although the figures we have been given regarding the number of referrals of children in welfare protection cover a nine-month period only, I think it is important to look at them. It is obvious that the number of people accessing information and advice through family resource centres - 140,000 - represents an increase on last year. Does the Department have an explanation for why people are turning to local family resource centres in greater numbers?